In the fast-paced world of clean energy innovation, biogas rarely takes center stage. It doesn’t shine like solar power, nor does it generate buzz like batteries, and it doesn’t stir geopolitical tension the way hydrogen does. But quietly, consistently, and with growing impact, it is already doing what many climate technologies still only promise to achieve someday: replacing fossil fuels today.

Biogas is produced from organic waste, agricultural residues, and even sewage sludge. It is essentially biogas that has been refined to contain a high concentration of methane, making it suitable to replace fossil-based natural gas. It can be injected into existing gas grids, used for transportation, or serve as feedstock for chemicals and fertilizers. In a world striving to decarbonize gas use without rebuilding infrastructure from scratch, biogas is proving to be an indispensable bridge — and in some sectors, even a long-term solution.

Biogas in Europe: From Policy Margins to a Key Energy Asset

Europe has long taken biogas more seriously than most. France in particular has emerged as a leader, thanks to a supportive feed-in tariff system, regional planning, and commitments to grid injection. The country now hosts over 600 biogas production plants and is targeting 20 terawatt-hours of output by 2030 — a goal it may actually surpass.

The United Kingdom has also begun relying on biogas, with its "Green Gas Support Scheme" offering financial incentives for anaerobic digestion plants that upgrade biogas to biomethane. Its use in transportation, especially for heavy vehicles that are difficult to electrify, is receiving increasing attention as a near-term alternative to diesel.

Denmark, Germany, and Italy are moving in the same direction, often linking biogas development to agricultural policies, waste management, and even rural economic growth. It’s a case study in how climate goals can align with the logic of a circular economy.

More importantly, biogas is no longer being merely blended with conventional gas — in some networks, particularly in rural or isolated areas, it is already replacing fossil gas entirely. This is a game changer: from partial substitution to full decarbonization.

North America: From RNG Buzz to Steady Deployment

Across the Atlantic, biogas — more commonly referred to as renewable natural gas (RNG) — is gaining traction in the United States and Canada, albeit through a different pathway. Much of this growth is driven by transportation credits, such as California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which has spurred gradual expansion, particularly in waste-to-fuel applications.

In the US, major gas utilities have started investing in RNG as part of their decarbonization pledges, and several states are beginning to set procurement targets. In Canada, clean fuel regulations and province-level support programs are paving the way for biogas expansion in transportation and stationary uses.

Although the US Inflation Reduction Act is more commonly associated with hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, it also contains provisions that could support RNG. Meanwhile, the private sector — especially in agricultural states — is investing in livestock-based biogas, with added benefits of methane reduction and fertilizer production.

That said, the US still faces challenges that Europe has already begun to address: fragmented policies, limited network access, and the lack of a national strategy that visibly includes biogas. But the potential is clear, and the building blocks are in place.

Beyond Energy: The Circular Economy Advantage of Biogas

One of biogas’s most valuable attributes is its ability to align with other sustainability goals.

In addition to reducing carbon emissions, biogas helps:

- Process organic waste

- Lower methane emissions from agriculture

- Enhance fertilizer self-sufficiency

- Create rural jobs

- Reduce pressure on sewage systems

It thus acts as a circular solution — transforming waste into energy, fertilizers, and economic opportunities.

Conclusion

Biogas may not make headlines, but it is helping to shape the energy transition in tangible, measurable ways. Across both Europe and North America, the sector’s growth reflects a shift in mindset: decarbonization isn’t just about futuristic inventions, but also about using the tools we already have — intelligently and efficiently.

In earlier publications, the author examined how technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture can help decarbonize industry and energy systems. Biogas deserves a place in that discussion. It is practical, circular, and increasingly scalable.

As policymakers seek climate solutions that are fast, affordable, and methodical, they should not overlook this quiet climber. Biogas has already proven that it can rise to the challenge — digester by digester, pipe by pipe, molecule by molecule.

Most US stock indices held steady in positive territory during Monday trading after a strong opening, as markets absorbed the recently reached customs trade agreement between the United States and the European Union.

The agreement, announced on Sunday, stipulates the imposition of a 15% tariff on most European goods instead of 30%. US President Donald Trump also indicated that the deal includes a commitment from the European Union to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy products over the coming years.

Meanwhile, senior officials from the United States and China are scheduled to meet in Stockholm on Monday in an effort to extend the trade truce before the August 12 deadline.

During this busy week, investors await more corporate earnings reports, most notably Meta and Microsoft on Wednesday, followed by Amazon and Apple on Thursday.

The Federal Reserve also begins its meeting today, which will continue through Wednesday, amid expectations to keep the interest rate within the range of 4.25% to 4.5%.

In trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by less than 0.1% (equivalent to 29 points) to 44,873 points as of 16:27 GMT. The broader S&P 500 rose by less than 0.1% (equivalent to 0.5 points) to 6,389 points, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose by 0.2% (equivalent to 41 points) to 21,150 points.

Copper prices fell during Monday’s trading amid a rise in the US dollar against most major currencies, despite the trade agreement between the United States and the European Union.

The agreement, announced on Sunday, stipulates the imposition of a 15% tariff on most European goods instead of 30%. US President Donald Trump also indicated that the deal includes a commitment from the European Union to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy products over the coming years.

Senior officials from the United States and China are scheduled to meet in Stockholm today, Monday, in an attempt to extend the trade truce before the August 12 deadline.

Separately, the increase in exports to China contributed to the East African Community (EAC) achieving its first-ever trade surplus with the rest of the world during the first quarter ending in March 2025, in a sign of a potential shift in the region's stance on global trade.

The bloc, composed of eight member states, recorded a joint trade surplus of $840 million with its global trading partners, the first positive balance in its modern history, largely due to the sharp rise in exports to China, the group’s largest trading partner.

This shift may be partly due to the escalation of the US–China trade war, which some economists say could prompt Beijing to diversify its sources of essential commodities such as metals and agricultural products.

According to data from the East African Community Secretariat, the group’s member states exported goods worth a total of $17.7 billion to the rest of the world during the three-month period, an increase of 47 percent compared to $12 billion during the same period last year.

In contrast, imports from countries outside the bloc did not exceed the value of exports, despite recording a 5 percent increase to $16.8 billion in March, compared to $16.1 billion a year earlier.

As a result, there was a net inflow of foreign currency into the region, which eased pressure on the foreign exchange market and helped stabilize East African currencies, which have long suffered from sharp fluctuations due to global economic shocks over the past five years.

The recession caused by Trump’s tariffs

This development comes in the wake of the steep tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on imports from several African countries, whose implementation has been suspended until at least August 1. Economists interpret the sudden rise in exports as a preemptive move to avoid the return of these tariffs.

Phyllis Papadavid, an economist and senior researcher at the Overseas Development Institute in London, said: “The fact that the surplus is driven by growth in exports is extremely positive. Some exporters may have accelerated shipments in anticipation of tariff imposition.”

In fact, exports to the United States jumped by 35 percent, equivalent to $73 million, reaching $280 million during the year ending in March. However, this figure represents only 1.3 percent of the total increase in the bloc’s exports, suggesting other factors contributed to this shift.

The US–China trade dispute is reshaping the landscape

Among these factors is the escalation of the US–China trade dispute, which may have prompted Beijing to look for alternative suppliers, especially for metals and agricultural products — two of its key imports from Washington.

The bloc’s exports to China jumped to $5.8 billion during this period, a 66 percent increase from $3.5 billion in the previous year. In contrast, the bloc’s imports from China rose slightly by 7.6 percent to $4 billion, compared to $3.7 billion in March 2024.

This marks the first time the East African Community records a trade surplus with China, reflecting a significant shift in a relationship that had always tilted in favor of Beijing due to its imports of electronics and heavy machinery.

At the same time, the bloc’s exports to four of its other major trading partners — the UAE, Hong Kong, South Africa, and India — also increased, boosting the trade surplus.

For example, the bloc’s exports to Hong Kong tripled within a year, rising from $561.9 million in 2024 to $1.58 billion this year, making it East Africa’s third-largest export market after China and the UAE.

The bloc’s imports from some of its main trading partners — such as the UAE, India, Russia, and Germany — saw a notable decline in total value, which also contributed to the surplus.

Bernard Wabukala, an economics professor at Makerere University Business School, said: “The bloc’s total trade with the world is increasing, but export growth is outpacing import growth.”

Dr. Wabukala confirmed that rising demand for African goods from the Chinese market was the main driver behind the increase in exports, noting that the surplus was a natural result of an upward trajectory that began some time ago.

He told The EastAfrican: “We’ve seen a major jump in exports to China, reflecting strong demand from that market, along with an improvement in product quality and diversity, especially in agriculture and mining. This trend is likely to continue in the medium term, especially with better rainy seasons supporting agricultural output.”

Data from the East African Community shows that the commodity with the largest increase in exports during this period was “copper and its derivatives,” which nearly doubled to reach $6.6 billion, compared to $3.9 billion in March 2024, indicating a massive rise in exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Other exports that saw strong growth included pearls, precious metals, and gemstones, which rose by 77 percent to $2.95 billion, compared to $1.67 billion, and are mainly exported from Congo, and partially from Tanzania and Uganda.

Exports of coffee, tea, and spices — mainly from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — also rose by $364.4 million, or about 30 percent, reaching $1.2 billion during the same period.

Meanwhile, the dollar index rose by 0.7% to 98.3 points by 16:10 GMT, recording a high of 98.3 and a low of 97.4 points.

In trading, copper futures for September delivery dropped by 2.9% to $5.62 per pound at 16:03 GMT.

Bitcoin traded above $119,000 on Monday, rebounding slightly from two-week lows as investor optimism grew following a new trade agreement between the US and the EU, which boosted risk appetite across markets.

Bitcoin was priced at $119,552.6 early Monday, up around 1.1% as of 2:18 a.m. ET (06:18 GMT).

At the time of writing, Bitcoin rose 0.6% to $118,800 on CoinMarketCap at 14:04 GMT.

Meanwhile, other cryptocurrencies posted stronger gains, with Ether hitting its highest level in seven weeks.

Markets Await Fed Meeting and US Crypto Policy Report on July 30

Markets found some relief in the trade framework agreement announced Sunday between Washington and Brussels. The deal imposed only a 15% tariff on European imports — down from the 30% previously threatened — alongside EU commitments to purchase $750 billion in US energy and invest heavily in infrastructure and defense.

This agreement reduced political and trade-related risks, prompting investors to rotate away from safe-haven assets like gold in favor of high-risk assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Attention now turns to the US Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, which concludes Wednesday. The central bank is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

Traders will closely analyze the accompanying statement and remarks for signs of potential rate cuts later this year. A dovish tone from the Fed could further support Bitcoin by reducing the appeal of low-yielding safe assets.

Investors are also awaiting the US crypto policy report, due July 30, which is expected to outline plans for creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve and provide greater regulatory clarity, especially regarding stablecoins.

Such regulatory clarity is seen as a key factor in boosting institutional confidence in the crypto market.

Bitcoin Remains Range-Bound Despite Trade Optimism

Despite recent gains, Bitcoin has remained range-bound between $116,000 and $120,000 over the past two weeks, reflecting investor caution as markets await clearer policy signals. While trade optimism supports risk-taking, broader economic challenges and Fed guidance are capping sharp price gains.

A BBC report described the US–EU agreement as a “major concession” from Brussels. The 15% tariff remains well above pre-April levels (what Trump calls “Liberation Day”) and less favorable than the 10% rate granted to the UK.

The report added that Trump played a decisive role in securing the deal, just as he did with recent agreements with Japan and the UK. Talks are also underway between the US and China in Stockholm, with expectations of extending the current tariff truce before the August 1 deadline.

Institutional Demand for Bitcoin Remains Strong

Despite sideways price action, institutional interest remains solid. According to data from SoSoValue, US Bitcoin ETFs recorded $72.06 million in inflows last week — marking the seventh consecutive week of net inflows since mid-June.

However, the report noted that the figure is significantly lower than the large inflows seen in prior weeks, and a meaningful rise in Bitcoin prices would likely require a major uptick in institutional flows.